6 the state of science in south africa
E A R T H S C I E N C E S
tied intimately to ocean basalt geology, than on applied geophysics, yet is the only
places De Wit’s work also squarely within recognised centre for this discipline in the
UCT’s traditional petrological focus. Marine country (there are only two other indivi-
geoscience is the other noted discipline duals in the field, at UCT and UFH). Recent-
within the history of UCT geology, having ly, the Africa Array initiative across the con-
begun under Eric Simpson’s urging, dur- tinent has been enhancing their status. The
ing his tenure as head (1957-1974), with status of geophysics at Wits and, indeed,
Richard Dingle achieving prominence in- in South Africa can be attributed to Louis
ternationally and heading up the Marine Nicolaysen (BPI Geophysics 1954-1993;
Geoscience Unit, to be followed, part-time, director 1963-1992). His contributions were
by Ben-Avraham (Tel Aviv University) until in many fields: geochronology; mine safety
its disbandment in 1994. including seismic events and rockbursts;
oceanic work around the country; the
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
famous Vredefort impact site; geodynamic
The school of geosciences at Wits has a large
research related to mantle stresses; and
and diverse staff and highly multidiscipli-
Gondwana geology.
nary history. The school encompasses the
two Bernard Price Institutes (BPI); that for Perhaps the major field characterising the
Palaeontology (founded in 1945), together Wits geosciences school lies in economic
with the allied palaeo-anthropology group, and mining-related geology, also stimu-
and has a well-recognised international lated by the long-lived Economic Geo-
standing, particularly for hominid work logy Research Unit (EGRU; now EGRI), which
(in cooperation with several other depart- was founded in 1957 and has always had a
ments at the university) and for Karoo rep- strong Witwatersrand gold focus. Led in
tile and mammal-like reptile fossils (Bruce earlier years by Des Pretorius (1966-1990)
Rubidge, current head, BPI Palaeontology). and successor Carl Anhauesser, it gained
Wits has the only palaeontological research prominence as a result of the work of LJ
institutes at a university in South Africa Robb, who is noted for his seminal work on
and curates a very large and scientifically the Witwatersrand basin. This department
valuable collection of fossils, mainly from has also shone within the igneous petro-
the Karoo and from the hominid-bearing logy field and through work on the Bush-
sites of Taung, Makapansgat and the Sterk- veld Complex, led in recent decades by
fontein Valley. The institutes also have the Grant Cawthorn and Lewis Ashwal. Ashwal
necessary preparation facilities and staff worked closely with De Wit of UCT, par-
to prepare and curate these collections. ticularly on greenstone belts and Archaean
This is fortunate in a time that the number crustal evolution, and is also an internation-
of palaeontologists and curation staff em- al authority on anorthosites. He has a strong
ployed by museums in the rest of the coun- African research interest, with recent work
try is declining. BPI Geophysics (founded on crustal rocks in Madagascar. The sheer
in 1936) currently enjoys less recognition variety of expertise at Wits is underlined by
and focuses on theoretical aspects rather other internationally acclaimed scientists,
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